I'm starting to wonder if Style of play is hurting us in recruiting. I already see teams that made the NCAAT get what appears to be a boost in recruiting but so far I can't find any new names associated with USF. The type of kids Heath likes to recruit aren't attracted to that ugly boring offense that USF ran over the last month or so. Heck our own players Rudd, Poland, and Robertson didn't enjoy it from reading their body language how they responded to Heath on the sidelines. We heard and read statements from Heath trying to defend his style of play to the media because he knows that the label USF had on them, as an unattractive team to watch, does indeed hurt recruiting.

We need a guy like Holland to come in and pull minutes from Collins which will make the team better. Nash really needed to play more at the SG spot this season. I think he is a guy that's about to get lost on the roster with the depth of SGs we are going to have.

I can see where recruits would think that USF won't properly prepare them for the NBA and therefore won't come here.

If the most important criteria a recruit is choosing a school by is whether it will prepare them for the NBA, you may be right ... but there should be enough other, more grounded players out there to field teams like this year's on a semi-regular basis.

But it's not just recruits who are turned off by the slow-it-down-and-stress-defense that Heath coaches

It's also the media and fans. Fans will learn to enjoy it - but ONLY if the team is winning.

The media will NEVER love it, since it makes the casual fan change the channel.

If we want recruits, fans, AND media, we have to play up-tempo games - AND win them.

First of all, **** the media. You're giving way too much credit to the Doug Gottliebs of the world. Up-tempo, down-tempo, sideways-tempo doesn't mean crap to the majority of the fans. It's all about winning. You're sadly mistaken if you think an up-tempo, losing team will keep our non-hardcore fans interested.

Never said that. But even a winning team that plays down-tempo won't draw anyone BUT hardcore Bulls fans. Which means no advertising. Which means more media piling on. Which means more Bulls fans in tinfoil helmets, LOL!

If it only draws hardcore fans, then we have 10000 hardcore fans... b/c that is how many fans came out to watch the WVU game. So that logic is flawed... or there wouldn't have been a bandwagon.

a winning team draws crowds, especially in tampa. Lose and no one shows but some die hards. Win and people come out of the woodwork, even for a slow it down team.

What he did: He scored 63 points in playoff victories over Plainview and El Paso Burges. Against Burges, he helped secure the win by scoring nine of his 33 points in the fourth quarter.

Who he is: A 6-8 senior forward.

The stats: He has averaged 21.6 points and 8.4 rebounds for the season and 31.5 points in two playoff games.

He said it: “I just wanted to step up. I’m going to do whatever it takes to help our team, whether that means scoring 33 points or three points. The last two games I was just hot, but I had no idea I had over 30 [on Saturday]”

Coach said it: “He has a real desire to win. He’s willing to stay late after practice or do whatever’s needed. He’s a versatile player who really fit in with his new teammates this year.” — Cleve Ryan

Did you know? LeDay transferred from Skyline before his senior season. “It’s a different environment,” he said. “It’s really exciting out here because people really support the basketball team.” … After getting recruiting interest from about 30 schools, including LSU and Purdue, he signed a letter of intent with South Florida. “I like their style of play, and they said I would have the chance to play coming in.”

DUNCANVILLE—On Sunday, Rivals.com moved from the Bob Knight Fieldhouse down the street to Duncanville High School. Within the Great American Shootout, organizers had created a special eight-team event featuring what would be considered "power" teams...

Sunday notables at GASO

Zach LeDay, PF, Dallas Mustangs- It was a productive day for the 6-foot-7 four man from The Colony (Texas) High. A wiry strong athlete who can spin quickly for dunks, he was aggressive attacking the rim and hitting the glass. It was a pleasant surprise to see him spot up for a pair of deep jumpers that looked comfortable.

FYI, The competition for Pollard is strong -- he has visited Texas recently, he has shown interest in Alabama and Georgetown, he is supposedly watching with interest to see who Mississippi State hires to replace Rick Stansbury, and Kentucky is still hovering in the background, waiting to strike. And since he doesn't talk much, we have no specific idea of where Missouri stands. But his visits show the Tigers have a chance, and wow, what a late signing this would be.

FYI, The competition for Pollard is strong -- he has visited Texas recently, he has shown interest in Alabama and Georgetown, he is supposedly watching with interest to see who Mississippi State hires to replace Rick Stansbury, and Kentucky is still hovering in the background, waiting to strike. And since he doesn't talk much, we have no specific idea of where Missouri stands. But his visits show the Tigers have a chance, and wow, what a late signing this would be.

J'Covan Brown did enter the draft so that does help Texas possibly land Holland should he stay in the draft.Like Rudd, Brown has until April 10th to withdraw his name from the draft. I love that rule change made by the NCAA.

"There was only one other recruit from the Class of 2012 that I was able to speak with this week and that was Demarcus Holland. Holland is a 6’3 shooting guard out of Naaman Forest High School (TX) who is considering you South Florida and the University of Texas. He committed to South Florida in February, but de-committed soon after that. He’ll make a visit to Texas sometime in the near future and will make a decision sometime in early April."

In that article from Future of Hoops, it also mentions 2013 player Desmond Ringer, a 6’9 forward:

Desmond Ringer, a 6’9 forward, from Eagles Landing High School (GA) was another prospect who was kind of enough to discuss their recruitment with me. When talking to Ringer, I was able to pick up his offers and schools of interest. He informed me that he Marquette, Cincinnati, Auburn, Mercer, Tulane, Central Florida, South Florida, and UNC-Charlotte have all offered him. Other schools showing interest in the 6’9, 230 pound forward are Arizona, Florida, Texas, USC, Notre Dame, Florida State, and Villanova.

Texas Basketball: Upcoming Decisions Will Impact Next Year's Team
by jc25 on Mar 19, 2012 12:00 PM CDT in Texas Longhorns and Other Basketball

With Kabongo and Brown's futures in flux, the Longhorns have zeroed in on combo guard DeMarcus Holland, a mid-tier recruit who played at Garland Naaman Forest with future Horn Prince Ibeh. Holland doesn't currently have an offer, but will more than likely receive one and commit should either Kabongo or Brown depart.

I'm still not sure whether Holland has a commitable offer from Texas at this point Blake Borron ‏ @GoHornsGo90@El_Alacran23 6'7" 5* wing forward Devonte Pollard is top target. 6'4" SG DeMarcusHolland from Ibeh's HS prob gets offer if JCB/Myck go pro . FYI, The competition for Pollard is strong -- he has visited Texas recently, he has shown interest in Alabama and Georgetown, he is supposedly watching with interest to see who Mississippi State hires to replace Rick Stansbury, and Kentucky is still hovering in the background, waiting to strike. And since he doesn't talk much, we have no specific idea of where Missouri stands. But his visits show the Tigers have a chance, and wow, what a late signing this would be.

J'Covan Brown did enter the draft so that does help Texas possibly land Holland should he stay in the draft. Like Rudd, Brown has until April 10th to withdraw his name from the draft. I love that rule change made by the NCAA.

Texas Longhorn junior guard J'Covan Brown will announce his intentions regarding the 2012 NBA Draft on Tuesday of next week, according to his Twitter feed, which is set on private.The latest coming out of Brown's camp appears to be positive news for the Horns. After it was initially believed that Brown was all but gone, there now appears to be a sea change, so much so that the Statesman's Mark Rosner was comfortable enough to Tweet this:

J'Covan Brown's "leaning" toward returning to #Longhorns for senior season, per his father Johnny. I'm starting to think he will return #UT26 Mar 12

While I would welcome back Brown happily (as would charter member of the J'Covan J'Fan Club, Peter Bean), not everyone shares the same sentiment. From a Chad Ford chat today:

John (Portland): Do you think it was smart for Kabongo to go back to school? On one hand, the last Texas point guards to enter (Avery Bradley, Corey Joseph) were not exactly ready. On the other, it is a weak point guard draft.Chad Ford: Yes. Especially if J'Covan Brown leaves. Both Brown and Kabongo need the ball in their hands to be effective. If Brown stays, it may be another long year for Texas fans and Kabongo.

I think it's about time USF moves on from young Mr Holland. If the reports are true that he really wants to go to Texas this bad, then if he can't and comes to USF he won't be happy. Anything that goes bad, and there are ups and downs in college, Holland will be wishing he was playing for Texas. If a guys' heart isn't with the school then USF won't get the best from him, especially with the strong possibility he will be a backup PG for at least a full season.

Brown's departure will drastically alter next year's Horns lineup
...Brown, the junior guard who led the Big 12 in scoring this season with 20 points a game — nine more than any other Longhorn — confirmed Monday that he is indeed leaving school early to enter the NBA draft.
...But he elected to roll the dice, and now the Longhorns will have to roll without him. Brown leaves the Longhorns without a proven scorer, perhaps necessitating the need for better balance next season.

Texas could have more inside punch if it signs Cameron Ridley, the 6-foot-10, 260-pound McDonald's All-American from Fort Bend Bush. Ridley committed to Texas more than a year ago but did not make it official with a signature during the fall signing period. He told reporters at the McDonald's game in Chicago last week that he plans to sign with Texas during the month-long spring period, which begins April 11.

Ridley scored 12 points in the McDonald's game, showing an ability to execute pick-and-roll plays in tandem with guards. He and Longhorns point guard Myck Kabongo could be valuable pick-and-roll partners next season.

Texas has three returning guards in addition to Kabongo — freshmen Sheldon McClellan, Julien Lewis and Sterling Gibbs, who'll all be sophomores. Rick Barnes' recruiting class includes one guard, point man Javan Felix from New Orleans.

And Texas is still recruiting at least two other players — 6-7 Devonta Pollard, a highly-regarded small forward from De Kalb, Miss.; and Demarcus Holland, a guard from Garland Naaman Forest who de-committed from South Florida. Holland is a teammate of 6-10 Prince Ibeh, who signed with Texas last fall.